By Katie Ingram
It will be a lot harder to score on Queens County goalies soon. The Queens County Minor Hockey Association (QCMHA) is looking to develop the skills of their goalies through a 10-week training camp this season.
The association wanted to give the goalies in minor hockey better training, and to develop the particular skills needed for goaltending.
“Our coaches are volunteers and very few of them are volunteers with the skill set of a goalie, as most of them are forwards and defensemen,” said Trent Gordon, QCMHA’s development coordinator. “When they come out and run a practice, most of the players on the team benefit from the skill set of the coach, but the goalie is more or less going through the motions.”
QCMHA saw there was a need to offer their goalies the chance to develop their skills in the same capacity as other players on the team. Before the organizations idea to start this type of training, those who wanted to receive specialized goalie training had to go to other parts of the province.
The camp is designed to not only help goalies develop and learn new skills, but for them to become more confident in themselves and the abilities they already have.
“We hope they feel better about themselves and boost their confidence,” says Gordon. “We want to make sure our goalies and all of the people in our association have the chance to build confidence, mature as individuals and have fun, because that’s what hockey’s all about.”
The camp will coincide with the Queens County minor hockey season and is open to goalies enrolled in the minor hockey program. Some of the skills the group could be working on include: positioning in the net, correct goalie stance during faceoff and glove positioning.
For more information on the program email Trent Gordon at newcape@ns.sympatico.ca
